Could we be overlooking matchup problems in some of these series? What do the Warriors have over the Mavs? How could Chicago so easily knock off the Wade/Shaq combo in four games?
Can the Spurs really dominate a team like the Suns if they both make it to the same playoff series? There are some interesting thoughts on this topic by somewhat biased board members. Let's look at the season's head-to-head history.
Nov 9, in San Antonio, the Spurs win in overtime, 111 to 106, with, of all people, Fabricio Oberto leading the SA's to victory by not missing a shot in eleven tries from the floor, and adding 10 boards for his very first NBA double-double. Phoenix actually shot much better then the Spurs from the field, .495 compared to .420, but somehow managed (and this is NOT a misprint) SIX foul shots all game, including overtime, and making 4 of them. The Spurs made 22 of 25 foul shots.
The Suns fell to 1-4 at the time, the reverse of the 4-1 Spurs.
February 2, back in Phoenix, the Suns win 103-87, this time with Amare Stoudemire dominating the game with 24 points and 23 rebounds, making a different statement from the earlier game between the Suns and the Spurs. "The team that played those guys in early November is not even close to being the same team today," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said at the time. It should be noted that the Spurs had lost to the Jazz the night before, and the Suns style of play is not conducive to having a relaxing back-to-back challenge. The Spurs also shot only .390 from the floor while Phoenix was a bit better at .440 Foul shots favored the home town Suns (23-27 to 17-19 for the Spurs)
April 2, in SA, the Spurs won 95 to 85, with Tony Parker scoring a season high 35 points, and Tim Duncan adding 22 points and 10 rebounds. Only Nash of the Sun starters was able to score close to his normal amount, putting up 20. An interesting side note - both teams shot poorly from the line; the Suns were a decent .704 (19-27), and the Spurs were a dismal .606 (20-33). However, the Spurs held the Suns to only .386 shooting from the field, as the Suns held the Spurs to .418.
I would not say the Spurs have the Suns number by any means from all this, though the Suns having home court could matter. These teams have faced off enough in past playoff series that common knowledge of one another cannot necessarily be factored into it in any meaningful way. The health of Stoudemire could be very important in this series. I cannot see any way a series between these teams goes less then six games, probably seven, in which case the Suns would have the slightest of edges being home for it.
